Teacher Interview

Conducted: March 2, 2017

Planning Questions:
How do you write a typical lesson plan?
o Lesson plans are written via team planning for 90 minutes and during that time
we plan our lessons two weeks in advance. They are aligned with Common Core
State Standards. Over the summer, we mapped out the year as cycles (1-6). Team
planning is great because we have each other as additional support. We help each
other to create standard and personalized instruction for all of our students.

What type of materials do you need available when you plan lessons?
o Definitely technology. All of the students have Chromebooks, so I try to make
lesson plans that utilize as many resources found online that the students can use.
I use resources from CMS, Mastery Connect, and Lucy Calkins.

In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the classroom?

o We focus on Pathways to Personalized Learning. We check the students TRC
levels after they take the beginning of the year test and group them based on how
they do on those and the pre-test.

Instructional Questions:
What are some of your instructional challenges as a teacher?
o Its really hard when we have newcomers in the classroom (in the middle of the
year) because we dont know where they are at academically, so we have to assess
them and meet them where they are. Luckily, we have great support staff that
helps us in situations like that.

What have been some of your instructional successes as a teacher?

o You have to be flexible. Teach different grades at different schools to get a feel of
what each is like. You have to have a positive outlook on things, especially when
you have every reason to have the opposite. Connecting with students is also very
important in regards to instructional success- you have an advantage when you
connect with your students on a deeper level and can then provide instruction
based on each student.

What do you consider essential characteristics for successful teaching?

o Same as the question above. You have to be flexible. You need to have a
relatively strong knowledge of the curriculum. You definitely need to be good
with technology (or find someone else who is so they can help you). You
 definitely need to be okay with being vulnerable and asking for help. And lastly,
you need to be energetic!

How often do your students receive social studies (S.S)/science instruction?

o The goal is for the students to receive S.S/science instruction daily, but reading
and math take priority. So, if we need to cover something in math our S.S/science
time is pushed out. Integrated lesson planning really comes in handy in those
situations.

Are you satisfied with the amount of time that you currently allot for social
studies/science instruction? Explain.
o No. Its easier when youre teaching middle or high school because you have a
concentration in a subject. However, in elementary school, youre teaching all of
the subjects and that makes it more challenging to set aside time for subjects that
arent stressed as much as math and reading. Theres definitely room for
improvement.

What social studies and science topics/units will be studied during the second week of my
clinical experience? What are possible goals/objectives I could address for my lessons?
Do you have any instructional resources that would support these goals/objectives?
o We just finished up out S.S unit, so now were focusing on Science. Our topics in
science are: 3.L.1- Understand human body systems and how they are essential
for life: protection, movement, and support; and 3.L.2- Understand how plants
survive in their environments.

What does reading instruction look like in your classroom? What reading topics will be
studied during the second week of my clinical experience? What are possible
goals/objectives I could address for my lessons? Do you have any instructional resources
that would support these goals/objectives?
o Our reading block is first thing in the morning, so we break up into small groups
first thing. We have another teacher (who comes in twice a week) along with an
ESL teacher (who comes in every day), so our class is basically split into thirds a
majority of our reading instruction time. This works out well because I can focus
on my small group instruction. Comprehension is our primary focus. It can also
get challenging when students are pulled out constantly, you have to be prepared
for some interruptions.

Classroom Management Questions:

What motivation tactics do you use to ensure a desire to learn?
 o We work as a community. My students all motivate each other which typically
increases their desire to learn and to be excited for school every day.

Can you explain to me about your classroom community? What are the class rules? How
is student behavior monitored? In what was is positive behavior reinforced? In what ways
are negative behaviors prevented? Tell me about the consequences for negative behavior.
o I love my classroom community. I looped up with them from second grade, so
Ive gotten to know them pretty well. We only have one classroom rule: Work
Hard & Be Nice to People. We really dont have behavior problems because of
looping. I know my students and their behavior and I can resolve issues relatively
easily and with little backlash. Our school does a school-wide behavior incentive
with charm necklaces. Students can earn charms and wear their necklaces on
Fridays. If the students obtain a certain number of charms they can choose what
they get to do- ice cream party, going to a dance, participating in a dodgeball
tournament Its pretty cool!

Tell me about the pacing of lessons and interaction in the classroom- use of time- and
other aspects of time wait time, and time using teacher talk and student talk. What
works well with your students?
o Pacing- a lot of self-reflection. Did I cover everything I needed to cover within
this standard? Did the students enjoy the lesson? Will students remember what
they learned from this or did I go to fast? I am always modifying my lesson plans
and adapting them based on my students. Its good to over-plan in situations like
this. Time- you give the students variety to perform to their highest potential. You
also allot time for a lot of whole-group and small-group instruction- its really
helpful with making sure the lessons and interactions are strong and lasting.